Obama team fires back at Putin op-ed on Syria

Sep. 12, 2013
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Presidents Obama and Putin / Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

The White House fired back at Russian President Vladimir Putin for his op-ed article Thursday, saying Russia's own actions prove that the United States is an "exceptional" nation.

"Unlike Russia, the United States stands up for democratic values and human rights in our own country and around the world," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

Carney said The New York Times publication of Putin's column underscores the American commitment to freedom of expression, and "that is not a tradition shared in Russia ... And it is a fact freedom of expression has been on the decrease over the past dozen or so years in Russia."

Putin challenged the notion of American exceptionalism in a Times op-ed in which he said that a military strike at Syria "would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism."

An attack could also "undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa." Putin added.

Putin also said his relationship with President Obama "is marked by growing trust," but he criticized Obama's claims of "American exceptionalism."

"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," Putin wrote. "There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too."

Playing to American opinion, Putin also referenced recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:

"It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America's long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan 'you're either with us or against us.'"

Back at the White House, Carney said the op-ed underscores the fact that Russia's "prestige and credibility" is on the line as Putin calls for Syria to surrender its chemical weapons to international control.

"It is also worth noting," Carney said, "that Russia is isolated and alone in blaming the opposition for the chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21."